The Seattle Mariners (41-48, -$1,310) have been rotating wins and losses over their last 12 games, never winning or losing more than one at a time.
They will look to prevent a two-game losing streak on Friday in their series opener against the New York Yankees (48-40, $62).
ODDS ANALYSIS
After falling back to the pack, the Yankees have created a bit of separation again in the AL East having won seven of their last 10 games and will look to continue their roll after the All-Star break.
The Yankees get to host the Mariners on Friday and are playing very good baseball at home, going 25-16 overall. Of course, Seattle actually plays better on the road with an even .500 record.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Yankees have been perennial favorites in the American League East for decades, but the shine had begun to wear off over the last few seasons. This year, they’ve been a bit of a surprise. If they are to maintain their positioning, they will need the starting rotation to carry them, namely Masahiro Tanaka.
Tanaka takes the ball in the Yankees’ return to action on Friday after he was able to snap a four game winless streak on Thursday, beating the Athletics with a two-run, seven and two-thirds inning outing.
The 26-year old Japanese hurler did miss a month earlier this year and the health of his arm continues to be a concern. Nevertheless, he is the team’s ace with a 5-3 record, 3.63 ERA and 1.030 WHIP in 67 innings over 11 starts.
On the other side, the Mariners are sending a rookie to the bump to kick off the second half.
Southpaw Mike Montgomery will get the ball after the lefty impressed in the first half, going 4-3 with a 2.29 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 55 innings over eight starts.
Montgomery even posted back to back complete game shutouts of the Royals and Padres at the end of June, though the league may be figuring him out as the Angels roughed him up for five runs in five innings in his last start before the break.
Still, his numbers have been good and the former top prospect had put up solid numbers in Triple-A Tacoma before being called up, with a 3.74 ERA and 1.170 WHIP.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Despite the numbers, Montgomery didn’t feel too bad about his last start, saying:
“I really thought I threw the ball well and commanded the ball well.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
Currently, there are only two teams in all of baseball who have scored at least 400 runs this season and one of them is the Yankees. Their opponents, on the other hand, have scored only 312, second fewest in the American League.
New York has once again embraced the name Bronx Bombers as they have already slammed 116 home runs. Still, they aren’t homer or bust, particularly now that Jacoby Ellsbury is back on the field.
Ellsbury and Gardner combine for a dominant top two in the order. In 42 games, Ellsbury has a .399 OBP while Gardner is an All-Star, hitting .302 with a .377 OBP, 10 home runs and 15 steals, combining some pop with speed.
Of course, after the two table setters, the team has a number of run producers including Mark Teixeira (.876 OPS), Alex Rodriguez (.898 OPS) and Brian McCann (.802 OPS) all of whom are having bounce back seasons and each having produced at least 14 home runs and at least 51 RBIs.
All in all, outside of second base, the team really doesn’t have a hole in their lineup, even with Carlos Beltran on the disabled list. The Mariners, however, have plenty of holes.
Seattle sent Nelson Cruz to the All-Star game as a starter given his .919 OPS. Despite that, over the last couple months he has been a shell of the player we saw in April and May.
Still, other than him, the team is lacking. Robinson Cano is hitting just .251 this year though his bat is finally heating up. Kyle Seager and Seth Smith are the teams only other consistent bats and Seager has a .767 OPS while solid, it is not spectacular.
PROP TALK
Cruz is the Mariner’s big bat, but stay away from him in prop bets. Not only has his bat slowed since the first two months of the year, but he has yet to get a hit against Tanaka in his career, going 0 for 9 with four strikeouts.
Of all the players in the Mariner’s lineup, Brad Miller is actually the one with the most success against Tanaka, going 2 for 5 with a triple.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Montgomery has pitched well in his first few games, but Tanaka possesses the more dominant arm and also faces the weaker lineup, giving the Yankees a clear edge. Add a dominant back end of the bullpen with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances closing out games and this one should go to the team in pinstripes.
New York 5, Seattle 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Seattle Mariners versus the New York Yankees will commence Friday, July 17, 2015, at 7:05 p.m. ET at Yankees Stadium. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
